(Amsterdam) The 13-year sentence handed down by a Canadian court against a Dutch cyberbully in an infamous case involving a Canadian teenager who committed suicide in 2012 should be reduced to four and a half years in the Netherlands , pleaded Thursday a prosecutor in Amsterdam.
A request that pleasantly surprised the mother of Amanda Todd, who, “considering Dutch laws”, expected a sentence without imprisonment.
Aydin Coban was convicted last August by a jury of extortion, stalking and other sex crimes in the case involving Amanda Todd, whom he blackmailed into exposing herself in front of a webcamera.
The 15-year-old committed suicide after recounting her ordeal in a YouTube video watched by millions of people around the world.
PHOTO ARCHIVE THE CANADIAN PRESS
Amanda Todd took her own life in 2012 after posting a video online where she said she was constantly harassed.
Coban was sentenced to 13 years in prison in October, but the sentence is due to be served in the Netherlands from August next year when he has served his 11-year sentence for other crimes. The Canadian sentence must first be “converted” to comply with Dutch law.
Coban had already been convicted of targeting more than 30 other victims when he was extradited to Canada to stand trial in the Todd case.
During Thursday’s hearing at Amsterdam District Court to convert the Canadian sentence, Attorney General Kasper van der Schaft told judges that the crimes for which he was convicted in Canada would earn him a sentence of four years. He, however, urged judges to impose six more months.
Mr Van der Schaft acknowledged that Canadians familiar with the Amanda Todd case would be “shocked” if a 13-year sentence imposed in Canada was reduced to around a third in the Netherlands.
Coban’s Dutch lawyer, Robert Malewicz, called the sentence imposed in Canada “exaggeratedly high, even by Canadian standards.” He argued that Coban should not be sentenced to additional prison time. But if this were to be the case, it should not exceed one year, including six months suspended.
Amanda’s mother, Carol Todd, said she submitted a victim impact statement to the Dutch court, but Coban’s lawyers chose not to have it read in open court. “I just wanted the court to understand the behaviors of this person and the loss of Amanda and the repercussions in the world of exploitation,” she explained.
Protect the identity of the accused
Me Malewicz criticized Canadian authorities for leaking Coban’s personal data, saying he would now be forever linked to the “Amanda Todd case”. The Dutch authorities do not disclose first and last names or other identifying information of suspects in criminal cases.
“He will always be recognized,” said his lawyer. For him, it’s like a life sentence. »
But Carol Todd believes that Coban must pay the price for his actions. If his identity had not been disclosed, “it would be to protect him — and this is about protecting other children,” she pleaded.
The court announced that it would issue its decision on July 13. However, this decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
Carol Todd now hopes the judges will consider the prosecutor’s suggestion. “If Mr. Coban gets nothing, it sends the message to predators that they could get away with it, especially if they commit an offense in other countries,” she said.
Amanda Todd was 15 when she took her own life in October 2012, shortly after posting a video on YouTube that described how she was tormented by an online stalker.
She had used cardboard on which she described her ordeal, in the video which has since been viewed by millions of people, highlighting the evils of online harassment and cyberbullying.
Coban has not been charged in connection with his suicide.
During Coban’s sentencing last year, Canadian judge Martha Devlin said he had targeted the teenager with his “enduring sextortion storyline” and that “the serious impact of the offenses on Amanda was evident to Mr. Coban and would have been obvious to anyone at the time”. The judge added that “ruining Amanda’s life was Mr. Coban’s expressly stated objective.
“Unfortunately, he succeeded. »